The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Those are cool. I'm jealous. You guys did a good job. Those will have many uses, and you don't have to bend over to take care of them.

 

[speckledhen]

Those are cool. I'm jealous. You guys did a good job. Those will have many uses, and you don't have to bend over to take care of them.

Glad you like them. Yes, no more bending over. I lose my cool way too much trying to take care of them with the other four getting in the way. This way, they can see each other and their pals below and not feel alone. And my stress when I go into that pen will be lessened, too. I even put Tiny's "princess roost" and food cup in later in the day and that is where she is sleeping tonight.
I put Lizzie and Tessa in their back pen, which has a two-level roost. At the end of the day, Liz was on one end of the top one with Tessa on the far end, as far from Lizzie as she could get. They can see out the window back there from the top roost, too, something they could not do in the front pen.
Lizzie is getting better walking on her leg. She is much more steady. I think eventually, she'll be able to go back with Atlas, or maybe Hector.

 

[getaclue]

Love the condo set up. That's ideal for senior living, and looks like it's fairly easy for you to care for them. It's sounding like everyone, and everything are on the right track at your place. I know you put in a lot of extra effort to get them that way, but it's sure nice when it pays off, and isn't wasted effort.

The roof is DONE! Dh, and I are very pleased with the results. They finished cleaning up the property before they left too. They really did a good job.

 

[1muttsfan]

That looks great. And look at that blue sky!

 

[speckledhen]

Love the condo set up. That's ideal for senior living, and looks like it's fairly easy for you to care for them. It's sounding like everyone, and everything are on the right track at your place. I know you put in a lot of extra effort to get them that way, but it's sure nice when it pays off, and isn't wasted effort.

The roof is DONE! Dh, and I are very pleased with the results. They finished cleaning up the property before they left too. They really did a good job.
View attachment 1200290 View attachment 1200291 View attachment 1200293

That looks great, Cheryl! I like architectural shingles, too.

It's been a long haul with Betsy and she is not out of the woods yet, not after losing such a huge amount of weight. I hope both hens recover. We sure haven't given up on them. If you recall, it was poor Bailey who was almost scalped by Bash and his brother competing so she is having her second separation of her life for health reasons. Well, one for injury and one for a health crisis.

 

[getaclue]

Once they get over the crop issues, I find that they tend to be hungry, and put the weight back on at a steady pace. It doesn't happen overnight, but then I don't think it would be healthy for them to gain too much, too fast. Steady seems best.

 

[speckledhen]

Once they get over the crop issues, I find that they tend to be hungry, and put the weight back on at a steady pace. It doesn't happen overnight, but then I don't think it would be healthy for them to gain too much, too fast. Steady seems best.

I think I'll ease Betsy back into her group. She went outside with them for awhile today, but is back in with Bailey overnight. I'll give them their soft food in the morning so she won't overeat. I think she'll gain slowly if I don't give them the chicken crack (13 grain scratch mix they love). They don't overeat the layer pellets.

 

[speckledhen]

Looks like we may get MaryJo's first egg today, on her 30 week hatch-day. This a.m., we found Atlas crammed into the bottom of the file cabinet nest box. MaryJo was leaning in and they were having an audible conversation. He stayed in for awhile, got out, she got in and was settling herself down. Then, she got out and ate some. A few minutes later, as we were leaving, she was back in and looking very much like we'll see that egg today.

In the Chicken Drama Report, in the Old Hens' Pen #2, head hen, June, laid down the law, big-time, to Wendy. They have one of those black rubber bowls for a morning handful of scratch and I tossed some in, they all ran over, Wendy first, then June and Georgie. I turned my back, only to hear a ruckus and June was kicking Wendy's butt all over the pen. She had her by the back of the head and was flogging her and would not quit, even at times, jumping on her back. They fought all over the pen, or June did. Wendy did not dare do anything except try to get away. I said, "Wendy! What did you do?!". What I bet happened is that Wendy turned to peck at someone next to her, not realizing it was her superior, June, and it was on like Donkey Kong! But, she could have pecked at someone else that June felt deserved her protection as well, like Neela, who is fairly crippled up and unable to really defend against that big-butt black hen. Our almost 10 yr old EE hen still has a lot of fight in her! No question who is in charge in that pen.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I agree. Those will be extremely useful.

 

[speckledhen]

NEWS FLASH! MJ's first egg @ 30 weeks!